President Before Platform

Socialists this year followed the novel party procedure of first nominating their presidential candidate, then building a platform under him. Fortnight ago, at the Socialist National Convention in Milwaukee, the 1932 Socialist ticket was named--for President, Norman Thomas of New York; for Vice President, James H. Maurer, onetime president of the Pennsylvania Federation of Labor--same ticket which received 267,420 votes in 1928. A 60-minute ovation greeted these uncontested nominations. Nominee Thomas' keynote: "The choice now confronting the world is between Socialism and catastrophe!"

Last week the Socialists, with considerably less harmony, began formulating the issues on which Nominees Thomas & Maurer will campaign. A bitter struggle resulted in what Colyumist Heywood Broun, defeated Socialist candidate for Congress and New York City alderman, wryly called his "first political victory." The convention voted (80-to-71) for repeal of the 18th Amendment and Government sale of liquor. Other plans: U. S. recognition of Soviet Russia, participation in the League of Nations, ten billion dollars worth of Federal unemployment relief and public works, cancellation of War debts, increased inheritance, personal and corporation income taxes, a two-year moratorium on foreclosures and tax sales of homes and farms.

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